Sparks says students are losers in walkout

Sparks Says StudentsAre Losers In WalkoutBirmingham school officials, faced with mounting classroom absenteeism following court-ordered desegregation, warned that students not answering roll calls are risking thousands of dollars in future income.School Research Director H. C. Sparks estimated that high school students failing to graduate on a national average lost about $954 a year as compared to grduates."This would amount to some $38,160 lost in potential life income based on a 40-year career," he said.Even as the school official spoke, other researchers were tabulating absenteeism for Birmingham white and desegregated high schools totaling 2030 for Friday alone. Negro attendance was normal.Meanwhile Assistant Administrative Assistant SellersStough said he had instructed principals to continue to enforce truancy regulations. Under state law they apply to students under 16.He warned, however, that students over 16 were subject to being dropped from class rolls, as those with more than 20 unexcused absences are not considered eligible for promotion or graduation.Sparks, basing his figures on U. S. Department of Commerce records, said the average American high school graduate has an annual earning power of about $4,548. He added those receiving between one and three years high school education could expect only $3594 per year.''To an average high school senior this amounts to some$218 a day just to stay in school for the 175-day school year after he receives a diploma," he reported.Sparks said the same average amounted to about $54 a day for earning freshmen going on to greduate after four years or 700 days of high school.The research director explained that students dropping out of school without any high school training could expect no more than $3200 a year or about $1334 less than those who had.

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Sparks Says StudentsAre Losers In WalkoutBirmingham school officials, faced with mounting classroom absenteeism following court-ordered desegregation, warned that students not answering roll calls are risking thousands of dollars in future income.School Research Director H. C. Sparks estimated that high school students failing to graduate on a national average lost about $954 a year as compared to grduates."This would amount to some $38,160 lost in potential life income based on a 40-year career," he said.Even as the school official spoke, other researchers were tabulating absenteeism for Birmingham white and desegregated high schools totaling 2030 for Friday alone. Negro attendance was normal.Meanwhile Assistant Administrative Assistant SellersStough said he had instructed principals to continue to enforce truancy regulations. Under state law they apply to students under 16.He warned, however, that students over 16 were subject to being dropped from class rolls, as those with more than 20 unexcused absences are not considered eligible for promotion or graduation.Sparks, basing his figures on U. S. Department of Commerce records, said the average American high school graduate has an annual earning power of about $4,548. He added those receiving between one and three years high school education could expect only $3594 per year.''To an average high school senior this amounts to some$218 a day just to stay in school for the 175-day school year after he receives a diploma," he reported.Sparks said the same average amounted to about $54 a day for earning freshmen going on to greduate after four years or 700 days of high school.The research director explained that students dropping out of school without any high school training could expect no more than $3200 a year or about $1334 less than those who had.